Support and package for dispensing



1933- c. J. LIPPOLD SUPPORT AND PACKAGE FOR DISPENSING TIE STRINGS Filed Aug. 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l grvventoz, 0.17." pold.

/Z' V T 7 g Oct. 10, 1933. c. J. LIPPOLD 1,929,873

SUPPORT AND PACKAGE FOR DISPENSING TIE STRINGS I I I 0.1/7 Zip SW, I

Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNETED STATES SUPPORT AND PACKAGE FOR DISPENSING TIE-STRINGS Charles J. Lippold,

Washington, D. 0.

Application August 26, 1931.; Serial No. 559,553

6 Claims.

This invention relates to supports, also topackages, and especially to a combined support and package for dispensing tie-strings.

Inventor has observed that much time is 6 wasted by employes of the U. S.'Post OfiiceDepartment in tying packages by the old and crude way of tying the strings in knots, and that much string is wasted because it is difficult and tedious to untie the knots; hence the strings are cut, thrown into a pile, become tangled, and are therefore useless for tying other packages. Applicant invented and patented a string fastener to overcome the 'diificulties above mentioned, but has succeeded only in part, for the-string fastener of hisPatent No. 1,635,283 does not overcome the difficulty of the strings becoming tangled.

One object of the present invention, therefore, is to overcome the difiiculty of the tie-strings becoming tangled, so they can be quickly andeasily dispensed, one at a time, in an immediateley usable condition, and can be used over and over many times. While this is practical and impor tant in the use of tie-strings other than those shown in my Patent No. 1,635,283, it is particu-. larly so in connection with my string fastener tionally clasped so the individual strings can be' quickly and easily withdrawn or dispensed while the remainder of the bunch remain practically undisturbed until they are respectively and indi-' vidually pulled from the bunch.

A further object is to provide a quick, easy and practical means and method of packaging the strings and their support for handling and ship ping without any danger of them becoming tangled or snarled when a number of such packages are massed for storage and shipment in'a mail-bag or other receptacle.

' Other objects and important features are pointed out or implied in the following details of description, in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: Y

Fig. 1 is a front View of one of my tie-string supports holdinga small package or bunch of tie-strings which include the string-fastener shown inthe patent referred to, a single-onefof such tie-strings, at the upper part, being in the position as if being manipulated into the receiving gap at the upper ends of the string-receiving slots, a suspending means being shown at the upper end. 1

- Fig. 2 is anenlar ged View, or approximately the size used in actual practice for heavy tie-strings such as used to tie bundles of letters in the Post Oifices of the U. S., of the clamping and support= ing unit made according to a form of the'invehtion that is found to be very practical and cited tive.

Fig. 3 is an edge View or right-side view of the device shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the tie-stringslooped and tied with an individual one of the tie-strings and thereby made fast to the hooked intermediate part-of the unit which is shown separately in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing ordinary tie strings' without my string-fastener, and also showing a sheet of paper around one pendant part 10f the string-group; and between the latter and the other pendant part of the string-group, this representing the first step in the method of forming the modified form of package shown in Fig. 6. J

Fig. 6 shows a complete form of package that may be made from the paper, strings and string-- support shown in Fig. 5.

Fig: 7 is an elevation of a modified forrnofthe' invention, as seen from the rearside, or opposite side from that of Fig; 2.

Itshould be understood that, in practice, the tie-strings are longer than illustrated in these drawings, but that the principles and methods remain the same, regardless offthe length or Variations in lengths of the strihgsg and that either method (here illustrated) Call be used With eitfif the plain 01" the-improved tie strings heie SHOWll; or with other kinds of tie strings or string fasteners.

Referring to these drawings in detail, which similar reference numerals CCiIfS'pOD'd to Similar parts in the several views, the invention is now described in detail as follows v The supporting andclamping or' clasping unit,- shown in all the views, and shown separately in Figs 2 and 3, is here shown as formed of a single length of wire, but as it may be formedv'v lth numerous differences, its detail description will have special reference to its functional nature and its'g'eneral mechanical characteristics. This unit comprisesan'eiongated body having a lateral extension 10 at its intermediate part, a loop or suspending means 11 at itsuppereni'a closed lower'end l2,'twe substantially s'traightan'd paral lel elements 13 extending between and united the utility of the device to with the lateral extension or hook 10 and the closed lower end 12, and an intermediate or central upright 14 extending between and united with the parts 11 and 12 while spaced from the elements 13 and in parallel relation thereto so as to form two parallel slots 15 which have closed lower ends and open upper ends.

My patented tie strings are indicated at 16; the ordinary tie strings, at 16a; and the packaging paper, at 18. A hook 19, or other appropriate supporting or suspending means may be employed for removably connecting the suspending means 11 to a ceiling or wall of a room in which the packages are tied and untied, so it will be in'a convenient position for passing the strings, individually or in small bunches, into the receiving gap or opening 1'7 at the upper ends of the slots 15 and between the part 14 andloop' or hook 10. When the strings are clasped between the elements 13 and 14, as in Figs. 1 and 5, any one of them can be pulled longitudinally and thus dispensed from the bunch without disturbing the latter. If any one of the strings is held by a knot therein, it may be left until the last, when the other strings have been dispensed, whereupon it can be either pulled or lifted out of the slots.

In forming thepackage for preventing displacement or tangling of the strings in transportation, the lower free ends (in Figs. 1 or 5) are bound together so they can not tangle, and one of the tie-strings may be used in binding them, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, at 162) and16c respectively. The same tie-string that binds the bunch also extends around the supporting unit, in direct engagement with the hook 10, or near thereto and between the hook and the closed lower ends of the slots 15, so the open ends of the slots are practically closed by the binding tie-string 16?; or 160, and the bunch can not rnove out of the slots. Therefore, when the binding tie-strings are loosened, the package is immediately converted from a shipping package to a dispensing package. In practice, the strings being longer than shown in the drawings, the binding string should be passed through the suspending eye 11, as well as engaged with the hook 10, in absence of the paper 18 as well as when such paper is used; and where the strings extend a considerable distance beyond the lower edge of the packaging paper, such string-ends may be folded back within the folds of the paper after the latter has been wrappedaround the upper parts, thus separating them from the lower parts so as to prevent entanglement therewith.

In the form of supporting unit here shown, the book 10 not only serves to cooperate with the binding tie-string as described or explained in the'foregoing, but it also constitutesthe uniting and rigidifying element that holds the other parts intact and in cooperative relation to one another, for although the parts may be soldered or welded together at 20, for sake of cooperation in making the device more rigid and stable, such soldering or welding could be omitted without impairing any considerable extent.

In Fig. '7, is shown a form of the tie-string supporting unit wherein the soldering is. omitted, and a slidable sleeve 21 of leather; rubber or other app opriate material is used; when made of handle by which the sleeve can be slid down on the part 14, past the part 10 and onto the top of the bunch of strings held therein-as in the forms in registration while the suspending hook is passed therethrough, and (2) holding the strings compact when it is slid down and frictionally held against them by the outward spring pressure of the part 14 against its inner surface. By thus holding the strings compact, I avoid the annoyance of pulling several strings when only one at a time is desired.

Of course, it is understood that when the strings are long and are folded back and forth between the folds of paper, and especially when the slots 15 are full or nearly full, the package will be much larger than shown, in proportion to the size of the supporting units, the present drawings showing the bunches containing only a few strings, to avoid unnecessary work and confusion.

Although I have described this invention very within the scope of the inventive ideas, as implied and claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a unit for supporting and dispensing a bunch of tie-strings, an elongated body having a suspending element at its upper end, a closed lower end, an intermediate part projecting laterally beyond the parts at the upper and lower ends, and parallel slots extending up from said closed lower end to said lateral projection and having open upper ends for receiving tie-strings to be passed down andremovably held at said closed lower end, said lateral projection being cooperative with any one of the tie-strings forv closing the upper ends of the slots and thereby preventing accidental displacement of the bunch of tiestrings through said upper ends of the slots.

2. In a unit for supporting and dispensing a bunch of tie-strings, a body having normally upright slots which are closed at their lower ends and open at their upper ends for receiving tiestrings to be passed down the slots and be held in said lower ends of the slots so as to be pulled longitudinally one at a time from the slots, and means movably engaged with said body for downward movement and pressure on said tie-strings for holdingthem compact, for the purpose specified.

3. The structure defined by claim 2, said body being springy and laterally expansible and contractible, the said means comprising a sleeve surrounding a part of said body and frictionally held in different adjusted positions by lateral expansion and spring pressure.

v1, In a unit for supporting and dispensing a bunch of tie-strings, a body having normally upright slots which are closed at their lower ends and open at their upper ends for receiving a bunch of tie-strings to be passed through said upper ends and down toithe closed lower ends and held therein for being pulled longitudinally and thus dispensed one by one, and an arched or outwardly curved lateral projection crossing over the upper ends of the slots for the purposes specified.

5. In a shipping package which is convertible into a dispensing package for dispensing tiestrings, the combination of an elongated member having parallel slots which are closed at one end.

and normally open at the other when in use as a dispensing package, said member having a lateral projection at the normally open ends, tiestrings extending through said slots and forming a bunch on said closed ends thereof, and binding means surrounding said bunch of tiestrings and engaged with said lateral projection in such manner as to substantially close the normally open ends of the slots and prevent the Y bunch from passing out through said slots while preventing the tie-strings from becoming entangled with one another.

6. The structure and combination defined by 

